Residents of the Standard Plea with the Knox City Council for Help

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- Mother of Standard resident tearfully pleads with the Knox City Council for help with taking action against Landmark Properties, the owner of the apartment complex.

Tearsa Gardner drove from Murfreesburo this past Monday to speak with the Knox City Council. She said that her expectation was to “get help...any help.” She says that she has been in contact with Peter Ahrens, the Director of Inspections in Knoxville.

Gardner claims that Ahrens is trying to help, but can only do so within the constraints of the building regulations and codes. She also reached out to the Dean of Students at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Melissa Shivers, who was able to provide some from of housing throughout campus, but “she wouldn’t help put pressure on [Landmark Properties] to help ensure safety.”

At this point, those who have signed leases with The Standard have realized the same thing Gardner has that although the leases were signed and Landmark Properties has not held up to its end of the deal, “it is a private matter.”

The lack of communication from the owner has also been frustrating, move-in dates have continually been moved back and all information given has been last-minute. Residents were supposed to be able to keep up with the progress online through The Standard’s blog on its website, however, it has not been updated since last month.

Student Lindsay Grillot moved in last Monday and said there was no help to move in, her key to her apartment didn’t work, and there were scuffs on her walls. She, along with Gardner, also complained about the parking.

Grillot claims that the parking spots are too small. The lack of parking also puts residents at risk for being towed.

She says that she, along with others are dealing with depression from the situation. This in turn, has caused her grades to suffer.

Despite all this, Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero said, “As a city, there are only certain things that we have control over. And we are doing everything that we can given the regulations and laws.”